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Early History 







EARLY HISTORY 

Sauglit^rs of tl|^ Am^rtran 
S^uolutton 

BOARD OF MANAGEMENT, NOV., 1908. 

In view of the fact that the authorized history of the 
National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, 
contained in the first Smithsonian Report 1890-1897. is un- 
available for general distribution, and therefore unknown to 
the great majority of chapters, and in view of the additional 
fact that letters have come to the Librarian General during 
the current year from chapters, asking for a condensed au- 
thoritative history of the first years of the organization, the 
following resolution is offered : 

"That the President General appoint a committee of three 
to prepare from the highest official sources, such a history, 
and that the National Board authorize its printing and dis- 
tribution to every National ofiicer, State regent, and chapter 
regent of the Society." 

This motion, presented at the November meeting of the 
National Board, D. A. R., contains the reason for a history 
that will be available for the entire Society. Its adoption by 
that body gives the authority for its pubhcation and distri- 
bution. 

The history of the founding of the Society, and of the 
first two years succeeding, is preserved in the Smithsonian 
Report 1890-1897, published by the United States Congress. 

Other accounts have been printed that differed from the 
official statements sufiiciently to cause uncertainty among the 
chapters. From different States at varying intervals come 
earnest requests for a condensed official history of those 
early months in such form that every chapter can have 
access to it. 

The committee appointed by the President General to 
prepare such a history is composed of the Registrar General, 
the Assistant Historian General, and the Librarian General. 
The first manuscript records, original letters, and the attested 

I 



statements of the three women who were officially recognized 
as Founders by the Continental Congress of 1898, which 
awarded medals to them as such, will be open to the inspec- 
tion of the committee. In addition to these sources of infor- 
mation the first Smithsonian Report will be consulted. This 
report contains the attested statement of members of the first 
National Board signed by two of the Founders, the President 
presiding, the Vice President in charge of organization, the' 
Treasurer, the Historian, the Registrars, the Recording Sec- 
retary, the Chaplain and four of the Vice Presidents. 

The committee submits that no higher or earlier authorities 
than these are possible. It will therefore offer the following 
account, realizing fully its responsibility in the matter, and 
prepared fully to vouch for its work, knowing that no his- 
tories can be written in the future which will disprove the 
facts here given, or impeach the testimony here presented. 

The Cincinnati was the first patriotic society in the country 
following the Revolution. Then came the Sons of the Amer- 
ican Revolution, organized in California, October 22, 1875, 
and composed of men and women, the latter called Daughters 
of the American Revolution. It was unknown at the east, 
when in the summer of 1881 Mr. John A. Stevens, of New 
York, in a conversation with Mrs. Ellen H. Walworth, ex- 
pressed his intention of organizing a society of Sons of the 
Revolution in that State. Mrs. Walworth exclaimed, "Not 
without the Daughters of the Revolution, surely?" He re- 
plied, "That is a good idea, and if you and a few other 
ladies will meet me at the Yorktown Centennial we will draw 
up a plan." But no opportunity presented itself at that time 
and the matter was held in abeyance. In 1883 Mr. Stevens 
organized the Sons of the Revolution in New York, and in 
1890 Mrs. Walworth assisted in founding the Daughters of 
the American Revolution in Washington, the Sons of the 
American Revolution having been organized independently 
of Mr. Stevens in 1889. 

On April 30, 1890, at a general meeting of the Sons of 
the American Revolution, in Louisville, Ky., after discussion 
in the convention, a vote was cast excluding women. This was 
telegraphed to various papers through the country, and Amer- 
ican women were filled with indignation. Among these was 
Miss Eugenia Washington, a great-grandniece of George 



Washington who, on the evening of the next day, May ist, 
'^T called upon Mrs. Flora Adams Darling, and proposed that 
4| they organize a society for women. Mrs. Darling heartily 
approved, but thought action should be deferred until Sep- 
tember, as many of those supposed to be eligible were out of 
town for the summer. 

On July 13th Mrs. Mary S. Lockwood, of Washington, 
D. C, a member of the Press Association, roused by the 
action of the Sons at Louisville, published in the Washington 
Post a reproduction of the history of Hannah Arnett, the 
Revolutionary heroine, and asked in conclusion, "Where will 
the Sons and Daughters of the Revolution place Hannah 
Arnett?" 

Mr. Wm. O. McDowell, a great-greatgrandson of Hannah 
Arnett, and a member of the Sons of the American Revolu- 
tion, saw the article of July 13th, and on the 21st published 
in the same newspaper, an article offering to assist in form- 
-ing a society, and concluding with a formal call for the or- 
ganization of the Daughters of the American Revolution. 
This was the first public proposal of the kind. 

Washington Post, July 21, 1890. 

Editor Post: I have just read with a great deal of interest 
^ the article in your paper of recent date on Women Worthy 
■'^ of Honor. * * * 

To me came the thought that it was the women of America 
that finished the Bunker Hill Monument; that it was the 
women of America that had formed the Mary Washington 
Association to finish the monument to Mary, the mother of 
Washington; that while patriotic undertakings sometimes 
have had to turn to Government for a finishing appropriation 
in the hands of men, in the hands of the women of America, 
patriotic undertakings have never failed. * * * 

I invite every woman in America who has the blood of the 
heroes of the Revolution in her veins to send me her name 
and address. * * * 

So soon as I can intelligently issue the invitation a national 
committee will be appointed to invite a meeting in Washington, 
D. C, for organization by the adoption of a national consti- 
tution and the election of a board of officers, when I will 

3 



pass the work entirely out of m}^ hands into those of the 
Daughters of the American Revolution. 

W11.UAM O. McDowell, 
20 Spruce Street, Newark, N. J. 
Miss Eugenia Washington, Miss Mary Desha, Airs. Hannah 
McLaren Wolff, Mrs. Louise K. Brown, and Mrs. Mary 
Morris Hallowell, all of Washington, and Mrs. Roger A. 
Pryor, of New York, answered this call. Five of these letters 
are appended : 

Washington, D. C, Julv 21, 1890. 
1206 S St., N. W. 
Wm. O. McDowell, 

20 Spruce St., Newark, N. J. 
My dear Sir : I am delighted with your letter in to-day's 
Post. I have asked several Sons of the Revolution why they 
left us out and have been answered in a way that was 
intended to make me believe that women had no part in the 
Revolution. My grandmother was the granddaughter of Col. 
John Montgomery, a colonel in the Revolutionary Army, and 
my grandfather, Gen. Joseph Desha, of Kentucky, w^as the 
grandson of Joseph Wheeler, who served with Braddock as 
lieutenant, and was afterwards a soldier in the Revolution. 
My grandfather was with Mad Anthony Wayne in the North- 
western campaign and commanded the left wing of Gen. 
Harrison's army at the Battle of the Thames. So you see I 
come of good old fighting stock, and it has made my blood 
boil whenever I have seen the "buttin" worn by the "Sons," 
and felt I was left out because I happened to be a woman. 
I am very grateful for your letter, and will help you in any 
way you suggest. I am good for any amount of work. 
With many thanks. 

Your friend, 

Mary Desha. 

103 F St. 
Washington, D. C., July 21, 1890. 
Wm. O. McDowell, Esq., 

20 Spruce St., Newark, N. J. 
My dear Sir: I have just read in this morning's Post your 
letter concerning the Arnett family. You will doubtless see 
it yourself, and my letter which also appears. Henrietta 

4 



Holdich wrote the story of Hannah Arnett's faith, centennial 
year, for the New York Observer, and if you know her 
address, which I do not, you will doubtless be able to learn 
from her the data on which she grounded it. My brother, 
Malcolm Niel McLaren, Jr., of Milwaukee, had it printed in 
leaflet, and herein enclosed I send you a copy. I am the 
great-granddaughter of Sarah Howell Arnett and Dr. Ben- 
jamin Stockton, who was a surgeon in the R. War, and cousin 
of Richard the Signer. My mother, Susan Patty McLaren, 
is living at 83, in good health and full possession of her 
faculties. Another descendant of the Revolution and the 
Arnetts is also here — Mrs. Anna Patton, daughter of Rev. 
Robt. Chapman, of Goldsboro, N. C. Should you at any time 
visit Washington, I hope you will call and see your far-away 
cousin, 

Hannah McLaren Wolfi*. 

I called on Mrs. Brown last night and she has asked the 
women who are interested to meet at her house to-morrow 
evening. I will write you immediately after the meeting. 

Your friend, 

M. Desha. 

Mr. Wm. O. McDowele. 

Dear Sir : With great interest I have read your "Call to 
the Women of America." As a Daughter of the Revolution 
I respond. I am ready and willing to do anything in my 
power to help keep green the memory of our forebears. 
Related as I am to two Revolutionary families on my mother's 
side — Oliver Wolcott's and Charles Thomson's, and to Col. 
Knowlton (one of General Washington's trusted aides) on 
my father's side, it would be strange indeed if my heart failed 
to thrill to your patriotic appeal. The names of William 
Marcy and General Lyon evince that our family has not 
failed in later times. 

What can I do, and what shall I do? I am willing and 
ready. Thanking you for giving me the opportunity to show 
my patriotism, I am, 

Most sincerely, 
Louise Wolcott Knoweton Brown. 

1645 K Street, N. W., 
Washington, D. C, July 22, 1890. 



Capron Springs, W. Va., 

July 27, 1890. 

My dear Mr. McDowell : I am much interested in the 
paper, for which I presume I am indebted to you, in which 
you propose to organize the Daughters of the Revolution. 

I have laid the paper aside for more careful reading when 
I shall have recovered from a slight illness from which I am 
now sufifering. 

I had relatives in the Revolutionary War — or rather an- 
cestors — but I am descended in regular line from the patriot 
of 1667 — Nathaniel Bacon. But I come mainly from clerg\- 
men who did not bear arms in the Revolution. 

I present, however, the names of my daughters, Mrs. Ar- 
thur Page Brown and Miss Fanny Theodora Bland Pryor. 

General Pryor is the great-great-grandson of Richard Bland, 
the patriot whose wisdom is acknowledged in all histories of 
the time — member of the first convention, etc., etc. — and all 
of my husband's Bland and Randolph ancestors were eminent 
in the struggle for independence. 

You may rely upon my cordial support. 

Sincerely, 

Sara A. Pryor. 

P. S. — I am the President for the State and City of New 
York of the Associ. for the Preservation of Va. Antiquities. 

1409 Corcoran St., 
Washington, D. C, July 31, 1890. 
Mr. McDowell: 

Dear Sir : In answer to a published notice, I send my 
name to be enrolled among the Daughters of the American 
Revolution. I am a granddaughter of Christopher Marshall, 
chief of the "Committee of Defense," and whose manuscript 
diary is now in possession of the Historical Society of Phila- 
delphia. This was subsequently published, but in the event 
of this being inconvenient for you to refer to, if proof is 
desired of the important position held by Christopher Marshall 
during the Revolutionary War, I respectfully refer you to 
my cousin, T. Morris Perot, 1810 Pine St., Philadelphia, who 
can give all information you may require, as he has joined 
the Sons of the American Revolution on the same claim I 
now present for myself. 

Respectfully yours, 

Mary Morris Hallowell. 

6 



Mr. McDowell replied promptly to Miss Desha, enclosing 
the addresses of those whose letters had reached him, and 
suggesting that a meeting be called at once for organization, 
election of ofificers, etc., and arrrangements made for a mass 
meeting on October nth, the anniversary of the discovery 
of America. Miss Desha notified the others, and the first 
meeting was held at the house of Mrs. Louise K. Brown, in 
the last week of July, 1890. Five were present. Miss Wash- 
ington, Miss Desha, Mrs. Wolff, Mrs. Brown, and Mrs. Ellen 
H. Walworth. After an informal conference, it was decided 
to defer action till autumn, and Mr. McDowell was so in- 
formed. But on July 30th he wrote again, insisting that they 
delay no longer. Enclosed in the letter were application 
blanks of the Sons of the American Revolution, a constitution 
largely a copy of theirs, a plan of organization and his own 
application for membership with a check for fees and dues. 
As it was to be a society of women, the application was not 
acted upon, or the money drawn. The check is preserved 
and will have a place in Continental Hall. Herewith are sub- 
mitted copies of letter and check : 

New York, July 30, 1890. 
Dear Miss Desha : Since writing you this morning I have 
been at work on the constitution, and I send it to you, and I 
also mail a constitution book * * * j enclose my appli- 
cation for membership, prepared somewhat hurriedly, with 
my check for initiation fees and dues. 

Sincerely yours, 

W. O. McDowell. 



v;^ New York, July 30th, 1890. No. 22796. 

^ The American Exchange National Bank 

'^ Pay to the order of Treasurer Daughters of the 
2 American Revolution — $5-00 

00 

^ Five $ Dollars. 

W. O. McDowell. 

Upon receipt of this letter another meeting was called at 
the Langham in the apartments of Mrs. Walworth, August 
9, 1890. A facsimile of the card sent out August 8, 1890 
(addressed to Miss Washington), is here presented: 

7 






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8 



Here the actual organization took place. Invitations had 
been sent to all known to be interested, but only Miss Wash- 
ington, Miss Desha, and Mrs. Walworth were present. The 
first step taken was to declare the society a national one. 
The constitution sent by Mr. McDowell was thoroughly 
reconstructed and th.en adopted. A Board of Management 
was appointed as follows : Miss Eugenia Washington, Miss 
Mary Desha, Mrs. Ellen H. Walworth, Mrs. Mary Orr Earle, 
Mrs. Hannah McLaren Wolff, Mrs. Flora Adams Darling, 
Mrs. Louise K. Brown, Miss Sophonisba P. Breckinridge and 
Miss Virginia Grigsby. Miss Desha was chosen Chairman, 
Mrs. Walworth Secretary, and Miss Washington Registrar. 
It was decided to secure, if possible, Mrs. Benjamin Harrison 
for President. The next da}^ August loth, a letter was sent 
to her requesting that she accept that' office; also one to Mrs. 
Morton, wife of the Vice-President, requesting her to accept 
the place of Treasurer. Mrs. Harrison's reply was accident- 
ally destroyed, but Mrs. Morton's is here appended : 

Bar Harbor, Aug. 23, 1890. 

Mrs. Morton presents her compliments to Miss Desha and 
regrets that she cannot accept the position of Treasurer of 
the Society of Daughters of the Americctn Revolution, as her 
time is otherwise so much occupied, and besides she is not 
certain that she is eligible to membership. 

She begs that you will thank the ladies for the compliment 
paid her. 

The letter of Mr. McDowell is returned herewith. 

Mrs. Harrison replied early in September, accepting the 
office, but stating that her papers could not be made out until 
her father, Dr. John Scott, returned to the city, as all the 
family records were in his hands. These papers were sent 
to the Registrar November i, 1890. 

Miss Desha, Miss Washington, and Mrs. Walworth began 
active work immediately after the meeting of August 9th. 
Letters were written to representative women of different 
sections of the country, inviting them to become members. 
Notices of appointment were sent, and acceptances received. 
A notice was published in the Washington Post of August 
18, 1890, stating the purposes of the society, and the eligi- 
bility clause, and requesting women of Revolutionary descent 
to send their names to the Registrar, Miss Washington, at 
her residence, 813 13th Street. During the months of August 



and September Professor Goode and Mr. A. Howard Clarke, 
of the Smithsonian Institution, aided the work, giving their 
time and suggestions whenever their advice was sought. On 
the 7th of September three hundred application blanks were 
ordered (Gedney and Roberts Files). The constitution as 
adopted Aug. gth was sent to Mrs. Darling and other members 
of the Board for any desired suggestion. In a letter dated 
September 12th Mrs. Darling wrote Miss Washington, "The 
constitution meets my approval in every particular." The 
same day she wrote Mr. McDowell as follows : "I have this 
moment finished revising the constitution of the Daughters 
of the American Revolution, and find it desirable in every 
particular." Preparations were being made for a mass meet- 
ing on October nth. and Mrs. Earle was appointed to engage 
rooms for that purpose at the Arlington Hotel, when a letter 
was received from Mrs. Darling, dated October 7th, Strath- 
more Arms, Washington, D. C. stating that Mr. McDowell 
would be with her at the above address on the nth of 
October to organize the Society of the Daughters of the 
American Revolution. 

Mr. McDowell had been informed by Miss Desha in a letter 
dated August 17th, of the organization of the society, and 
that as soon as people returned to the city, there would be a 
meeting of all the members. Her letter was as follows : 

1206 F St., N. W., 
Washington, D. C, August 17, 1890. 

My dear Mr. McDowell •. * * * I have postponed writ- 
ing to you till I had something to tell. I took the constitution 
and papers you sent to Mrs. Walworth, and after reading 
them over we decided to call a meeting at the Langham, 
where Mrs. Walworth lives. Only a few ladies came, but 
we organized and elected officers * * * gy ^[-^^ j^j-st of 
September most people will be home and we will try to have 
a meeting of all the members * * * I have written to 
Mrs. Harrison and Mrs. Levi P. Morton, and Miss Washing- 
ton is sending notices to a great many friends * * * 
Thanking you for all your interest and kindness and hoping 
to see you soon in Washington, 

I am your friend, 

Mary Desha. 

To this letter he replied, endorsing all that had been done, 
and on September 2nd wrote again : 

10 



New York, September 2, 1890. 
My dear Miss Desha ; * * * j ^^-^ ready to come to 
Washington and spend a day with you at any time that may 
be convenient, over the preliminary work, and to attend later, 
if you wish it, a fuller meeting * * * j ^jjj ^i-ji-ig with 
me the badge of the S. A. R. and will study over a badge 
for the D. A. R. 

Sincerely yours, 

W. O. McDowell. 
Mrs. Darling had approved the constitution, and in a letter 
dated August 30th, accepted a position on the Board of Man- 
agement. The letter is here given : 

Culpeper, Va., August 30, 1890. 

My dear Miss Washington ; * * * j thank you for sug- 
gesting my name as one of the Board of Managers, which I 
accept, but remember my personal affliction makes it impossi- 
ble for me to be an active vice-president, for the patriots in 
Heaven could hear any motion that I could hear. I really 
have no aspirations or qualifications for any office of re- 
sponbility. * * * 

In view of these facts this offer to organize a second time 
seemed somewhat strange, but feeling it important that there 
should be harmony of action, the officers who had been work- 
ing during August and September agreed that Mrs. Darling- 
should be informed that the society was already organized, 
although the details were not perfected, and that they had 
planned from the first to have a general meeting on October 
nth, but that the officers already appointed on the Board 
must be recognized. With this understanding which was ac- 
quiesced in by Mrs. Darling in a letter to Miss Desha, the 
meeting was held as proposed. 

Eighteen women signed the formal draft of organization 
in the following order : 

Miss Eugenia Washington 
Mrs. Flora Adams Darling 
Mrs. Ellen Hardin Walworth 
Mrs. Mary Morris Hallowell 
Miss Susan Riviere Hetzel 
Mrs. Margaret Hetzel 
II 



Mrs. Mary V. E. Cabell 

Mrs. Mary S. Lockwood 

Mrs. Alice Morrow Clark 

Miss Pauline McDowell 

Mrs. Ada P. Kimberley 

Mrs. Aurelia Hadley Mohl 

Miss Floride Cunningham 

Mrs. Caroline L. Ransom 

Mrs. Emily Lee Sherwood 

Mrs. Harriet Lincoln Coolidge 

Mrs. Jennie D. Garrison 

Miss Mary Desha, Secretary pro tern. 

Mr. McDowell presided and prepared motions which were 
presented by members and adopted. 

Thus far the facts are as follows : On July 13th Mrs. 
Lockwood's article appeared in the Post, condemning the 
action of the Sons at Louisville, and asking where they would 
place Hannah Arnett, but making no suggestion of a woman's 
society. 

On July 2ist Mr. McDowell published in the same paper 
a formal call to American women to organize. The proof of 
these two facts can be obtained from the old files of the Post, 
which have been carefully examined during this year (1908). 

The meeting of August 9th was held in response to Mr. 
McDowell's urgent call to organize and for that express pur- 
pose. The legal formalities for such action were complied 
with, and the action itself was regular from first to last. Had 
every one invited been present there would have been ten 
founders instead of three. Had Mr. McDowell followed up 
his call by attending this meeting with the three who did at- 
tend, there would have been four founders. While every 
one can recognize the fitness of having women founders and 
organizers for a woman's society, it is equally fitting to ac- 
knowledge here that Mr. McDowell gave valuable aid to 
the three women who founded and carried it on. For his 
services he deserves and will have grateful remembrance. 

During these months of August and September Mrs. Sara 
A. Pryor actively aided the work in New York City, and was 
in constant correspondence with the members of the Society 
at Washington and elsewhere. Her commission as Regent for 
that city bears date, October nth, 1890. 

12 



Facsimile of the Commission, 

Under Authority 

of the Constitution of the National Society of the Daughters 

of the American Revolution, 

Mrs. Roger A. Pryor is appointed 

Regent 

for New York City, in the State of New York, 

To form a Chapter of which she shall be the presiding 

Officer until 

October eleventh, 1892. 

Her acceptance is respectfully requested. 

(Signed) Flora Adams Darling, 
Vice President General in CJiarge of Organisation. 
Washington City, 

October nth, 1890. 

At the meeting of October nth organization was carried 
on, not begun. A notice was sent to the Washington Post 
that night for the morning paper, of which the following is an 
extract : ''An organization, patriotic in purpose, was per- 
fected yesterday at the Strathmore Arms." 

At this meeting the three founders were present and what- 
ever was accomplished was supplementary, and not in any 
sense a process of annulment. Had that been permitted, or 
even possible when the wife of the President of the United 
States had already consented to take office, the eighteen 
women present, with their presiding officer, would all have 
been founders, for they all participated equally in whatever 
was done. 

October nth had been selected as the day on which to 
celebrate, not effect, organization of the society, because it 
was the date of Columbus' discovery of America, and be- 
cause that discovery was made possible by the generosity of 
Queen Isabella, but this celebration was never intended to 
obliterate, or alter the date of organization. It is not diffi- 
cult to understand that the larger meeting of October nth 
overshadowed that of August 9th, especially as it continued 
the work begun then, and the habit soon formed of referring 
to October nth as the date of organization has grown and 

13 



hardened into settled conviction with all but the first workers 
and those who were closely associated with them. 

On October i8th an adjourned meeting was held at the 
house of Mrs. Wm. D. Cabell. The Washington Post of the 
next morning had the following notice : "The parlors of 
Professor and Mrs. Cabell's residence at 1409 Massachusetts 
Avenue were comfortably filled last evening by a number of 
representative women of this city, including Mrs. Harrison, • 
and the organization of the Daughters of the American Revo- 
lution was completed * * *" 

As the meeting of October nth was subsidiary to that 
of August 9th, and adjourned to the i8th, it will be seen that 
three meetings were required to complete the organization 
of the society: August 9th, founded; October nth, organi- 
zation carried on ; October i8th, organization completed. At 
this meeting of the 18th the colors of Washington's staff 
(dark blue and white) were chosen for the rosette, and a seal 
and motto were decided upon. Two resolutions which were 
adopted October nth were discussed. The first was offered 
by Mrs. Harriet L. Coolidge — "That a monument be erected 
in Paris to the memory of George Washington" ; the second 
by Miss Desha, "That aid be given to the Mary Washington 
Association." A third was offered by Mrs. Mary S. Lock- 
wcod, "That the society should secure rooms and later a fire- 
proof building in which to deposit Revolutionary relics and 
historical papers" ; and a fourth by Mrs. Mary McDonald, 
"That life membership dues and charter fees be set aside for 
this purpose." 

From this time meetings were held each month over 
which Mrs. Cabell presided, as Mrs. Harrison accepted 
the presidency with the understanding that she should not be 
obliged to attend regularly, her time being fully occupied. 
It is not easy to estimate the debt the society owes to Mrs. 
Cabell. Her spacious residence was its meeting place for 
more than a year. Board meetings were held there constantly. 
On the 22nd of February, 1891, she gave a grand reception, 
the first of a series. No pains were spared in the preparations. 
Mrs. Harrison, with Mrs. Cabell, received the members. The 
rooms were lavishly decorated with the Flag, and as the 
guests entered the hall they passed between a double line of 
guards dressed in the continental buff and blue. There were 

14 



stirring- speeches interspersed with patriotic music. In the 
supper room the colors of the society were reproduced in 
flowers and decorations. Everything was done to stir pride 
in the heroic ancestry that gave the right of entrance into the 
new organization. After this its success was assured. On 
March 20, 1891, the first chapter in the country was formed, 
in Chicago, Mrs. Frank Osborn, Regent. This was followed 
on April 15th of the same year by the Atlanta chapter, and 
on x^pril igth by the New York City chapter. The last- 
named had held informal meetings for some months previous, 
but did not formally organize until April igth, which date 
was chosen for its historic interest. 

A Committee on Insignia had been appointed, but the chair- 
man, Miss Breckinridge, was preparing for a visit abroad, 
and left the country before she had opportunity to make a 
full report. Her correspondence with several firms, including 
the designs sent by them, was turned over to the new chair- 
man, Mrs. G. Brown Goode, but none of them were in the 
least satisfactory to the committee. Dr. Goode, learning that 
no agreement could be reached, suggested the spinning wheel. 
His official report, sent in response to a request from the 
National Board of i8g6, is here appended : 

Washington City, April i, 1896. 
Dear Mrs. Boynton : 

In response to your enquiry in regard to the history of the 
insignia of the Daughters of the American Revolution, I 
would say that I distinctly remember the circumstances con- 
nected with its origin. 

I was at that time chairman of the Advisory Committee, 
attended regularly the meetings of the National Board of 
Management, and was conversant with all its proceedings. 

The Committee on Insignia was appointed a month or two 
after the organization of the Society, and was composed of 
three of the Honorary Vice Presidents, Miss Breckinridge, 
Mrs. Goode, and Miss Mary Desha. Miss Breckinridge served 
as chairman for some months, but resigned on or about the 
twentieth of April, when Mrs. Boynton was appointed upon 
the committee and Mrs. Goode designated chairman. 

It was after the appointment of Mrs. Goode as chairman 
that I began to take especial interest in the insignia, and I 
recall the fact that there were in the possession of the com- 

15 



mittee at that time a number of elaborate designs, submitted 
by several firms of jewelers in New York and Philadelphia. 
They seemed to me trite and uncharacteristic, and I well 
remember that no one of them embodied the idea of a spin- 
ning wheel or any part thereof. 

*0n the twentieth of April, at a meeting of the Board, 
the committee made a report of progress, but asked for more 
time. They were unable to recommend any of the designs 
which had at that time been submitted. They then began 
work ill earnest, there being considerable anxiety in the 
Board that the badge should be decided upon. I remember 
having modestly suggested the idea of repeating in the in- 
signia the spinning-wheel emblem which had already been 
accepted for the seal of the Society. I was requested by the 
committee to draw a design. Aly first rough sketch which 
was submitted to the committee at a meeting which was held 
in my office at the Smithsonian late in April was not thor- 
oughly satisfactory to myself, since the stars which projected 
beyond the rim of the wheel looked too much like the handles 
on the steering wheel of a ship, while the distaff pointed to 
the right instead of to the left, as at present, and had its tip 
lower down, so as to suggest the idea of a cannon. 

The same evening, after a number of trials, the badge was 
developed in precisely its present form. My rough sketch 
was elaborated by my young friend Mr. Paul Brockett, was 
presented to the committee on the following day. and was 
approved. On May 26th all the designs were submitted to 
the Board of Management with a favorable recommendation 
for the wheel and distaff design, which was unanimously 
adopted. The sketch which was submitted to the Board is 
herewith enclosed (enclosure A). 

It was then sent to Messrs. J. E. Caldwell and Company, 
of Philadelphia, by whom the design was refined and con- 
structed in metal. The only modification suggested by them 
was that the fiax should be done in platinum rather than in 
silver, which was objected to on account of its liability to 
tarnish. 

Some months later, after the dies had been made and the 
badges were ready to be delivered, it was found necessary to 
patent the design, and I was requested, as the "inventor," to 

*Miss Breckinridge's last report. She resigned directly 
afterwards. — H. M. B. 

16 



make the necessary application. This was done August 3, 
1891. The patent was issued September 22, 1891, and bears 
the serial number 401,584. Copies of the design and speci- 
fication are enclosed herewith (enclosure B). My claims in 
the patent were made over to the National Society of the 
Daughters of the American Revolution. The fee of forty 
dollars was paid by Messrs. Caldwell and Company, and in 
consideration of this fact and of the considerable expense of 
making the dies they were granted the exclusive right to 
manufacture for a period of years. 

I am told that in a report read at the last Continental 
Congress it was stated that my design was an elaboration 
of one first drawn by Mr. Edward Roby. This is not true, 
for I never saw Mr. Roby's design or even heard of it until 
less than two weeks ago. No such design was ever in my 
posession or in that of the committee. It is, of course, quite 
possible that Mr. Roby may have drawn a wheel design before 
I did, and if he has a memorandum of the date he can readily 
establish this fact. I have no disposition to dispute his claim; 
indeed it would be very ungracious for me to do so, since 
Mrs. Roby has recently assured me that his design (which 
she described as a wheel without the distaff beneath it, was 
earlier than mine. 

All this, however, is quite immaterial, since I am positive 
of the fact that under my own pencil grew up the emblem 
in its present form ; — a wheel of gold over a distaff filled 
with silxer flax, the wheel with thirteen spokes, having op- 
posite the end of each a star intended for the reception of a 
jewel. 

The disposition of the legend was also mine, the rim being- 
divided into an upper and lower portion by golden stars on 
either side, having above the stars the words "Daughters of 
the" and below "American Revolution," in letters of gold 
upon a surface of blue enamel. 

A statement that the badge was designed by me was pub- 
lished in the official organ of the Society for December, 1892, 
and has never been contradicted. I have, I confess, taken 
much pleasure in m}' connection with the origin of the em- 
blem which is now worn by so many of America's most rep- 
resentative women. 

The spinning wheel from which the original sketch wa'^ 

17 



made was one which was used by my mother early in the 
century, and now stands in my dining room. When the Me- 
morial Hall, which it is proposed by the Daughters to erect, 
is completed I shall take great pleasure in presenting to the 
Society this wheel, should it be deemed of sufficient interest 
to deserve a place among their treasures. 

Yours faithfully, 

(Signed) G. Brown Goode. 

The above statement relates to only one of the insignia of 
the Society. The colors, blue and white, were adopted in 
Januar3^ 1891, and the rosette, precisely identical with that of 
the Sons of the American Revolution, but made in blue and 
white enamel and in the form of a pin, was at that time 
decided upon. The emblem of the wheel and distafif was, as 
I have said, adopted May 26th, 1891. The ribbon of blue and 
white was ordered by the committee to be woven in accord- 
ance with specification and sketch furnished by them, said 
sketch and specification are herewith enclosed (enclosure C). 

Another fact which may be of interest in connection with 
the history of the insignia is that the members of the Board 
of Management made themselves individually responsible for 
a certain number of the badges. To the best of my memory 
this number was twenty. Without this pledge the jewellers 
would not go to the expense of making the dies. 

The first badge to go to a member of the Society left Cald- 
well's establishment July i, 1891. 

In the drawing, A designates the representation of a spin- 
ning-wheel, and B designates the representation of a distaff 
across the same. 

C designates the representation of a number of stars ar- 
ranged at intervals on the rim of the wheel A. On the 
face of the wheel is the name of the Society, "Daughters of 
the American Revolution"; but this forms no patentable ele- 
ment of the design. 

I claim — 

The design for a badge, substantially as shown and de- 
scribed. 

George Brown Goode. 
Witnesses : ) 

Paul Brockett, 
J. Louis Willige. 

(Note. — Dr. Goode was a member of the Advisory Board 

18 



of the Society, and Mrs. Goode was on the Insignia Commit- 
tee. This design presented and assigned to the Daughters 
was suggested to Dr. Goode by an old spinning-wheel belong- 
ing to his grandmother, now deposited in the National Mu- 
seum.) 

Appendix B. 

Patent for the Insignia of the National Society of the 
Daughters of the American Revolution. 

Design 

G. B. Goode 

Badge. 

No. 21053. Patented September 22, 1891. 

(For illustration of badge in colors see Plate 4.) 




Inventor, 

George Brown Goode, 
By John A. WiEdersheim, 
Witnesses: Attorney. 

P. F. Nagle. 

Wm. C. WiEDERSHElM. 

United States Patent Office. 
George Brown Goode, of Washington, District of Columbia, 
assignor to the National Society, Daughters of the American 
Revolution. 

Design for a Badge. 
Specification forming part of Design No. 21053, dated Sep- 
tember 22, 1891. Application filed August 3, 1891. Serial 
No. 401,584. Term of patent, 14 years. 

19 



To all whom it may concern : 

Be it known that I, George Brown Goode, a citizen of the 
United States, residing in the city of Washington, District 
of Columbia, have invented and produced a new and original 
design for a badge, of which the following is a specification, 
reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming 
part thereof. 

The leading feature of my design for a badge is the rep- 
resentation of a spinning-wheel with a distaff thereon. 

Dr. Goode had served the society from August, 1890, with 
such ability and earnestness that every member was glad in 
having him so closely associated with this beautiful Insignia. 

On June 8, 1891, the society was incorporated under the 
laws of Congress for the District of Columbia as the "Na- 
tional Society, Daughters of the American Revolution," the 
signers of the act of incorporation being Mrs. Caroline Scott 
Harrison, Mrs. Henrietta Greely, Mrs. Sara E. Goode, Mrs. 
Mary E. McDonald, Mrs. Mary V. E. Cabell, Mrs. Helen M. 
Boynton, Miss Eugenia Washington, and Miss Mary Desha — 
Mrs. Ellen H. Walworth was not in the city and could not 
be reached. 

It has been publicly stated that the office of State Regent 
was not created until April, 1891 — but the books of the or- 
ganizing Vice President showed that letters had been written 
as early as November, 1890, asking prominent women in dif- 
ference States to serve in this capacity. The first five to be 
confirmed were Mrs. N. B. Hogg, of Pennsylvania; Mrs. 
Joshua Wilbur, of Rhode Island ; Miss Louise W. McAllister, 
of New York; Mrs. De B. R. Keim of Connecticut, and Mrs. 
Wm. Wirt Henry, of Virginia. 

The constitution adopted August 9th required amendment 
and some revision, and in May, 1891, Gen. Shields, who had 
been elected Legal Advisor, was requested, as chairman of a 
committee of three, to revise certain portions. This he gra- 
ciously did to the entire satisfaction of the society. 

During May and June of 1891, there was some friction 
between the Board and the organizing Vice President. The 
Board found that it was impossible to establish the society on 
any solid business foundations under methods so independent 
as hers. On the other hand, she appeared to doubt the good 

20 



faith of the Board and decHned to make any reports or sub- 
mit to any rules. The matter culminated in June, when on 
the i8th she wrote that she would not recognize the authority 
of the Board, at the same time forbidding the use of her name. 
Under these conditions the only possible course was to 
declare her office vacant, which was done July i, 1891. 
The department was then put in charge of a committee. On 
August 1 2th a letter was received from Mrs. Darling, dated 
August /th, resigning from the society. It has been stated 
that her action was due to the controversy over the eligibility 
clause, but the records show that this discussion did not occur 
until months afterward. About this time a chapter in New 
York, composed largely of Mrs. Darling's personal friends, 
separated from the National Society and organized under her 
direction the Daughters of the Revolution — with State societies. 

In October of this year national officers and State and 
chapter Regents were invited by the President General to a 
conference which was held at Mrs. Cabell's house. Mrs. Har- 
rison presided. Free discussion was invited and a full under- 
standing was reached between the State and chapter Regents, 
and the National Board. An eloquent appeal for Continental 
Hall was made by Mrs. Cabell. The next day officers and 
members were entertained at a reception given by Mrs. Har- 
rison, in the White House. 

On the 14th of December, 1891, at a meeting held at Mrs. 
Cabell's residence Airs. Ellen H. Walworth offered a resolu- 
tion that "a committee be appointed to consider ways and 
means of erecting a fire-proof building and founding a home 
for the society, which shall also be the Memorial Hall of 
the Daughters of the American Revolution, and that the said 
committee be instructed to bring an early report to the Board.'' 
It was carried unanimously. 

The first Congress was held in the Church of Our Father 
on February 22, 1892. Those who were privileged to attend 
will remember the patriotic fervor, the warm comradeship, 
and the dignity of the sessions — a dignity that was the more 
noticeable because, notwithstanding the lack of parliamentary 
methods, these being at that time almost unknown to the 
majority of members, it stamped itself indelibly upon those 
who looked on from the outer ranks. It was a dignity that 
is always present where noble aims and high purposes have 

21 



taken such possession of an audience that no room is left for 
small ambitions and selfish pursuits. 

The society felt the need of a magazine in which to record 
its history and work, and in May, 1892, Mrs. Shields offered a 
resolution, which was unanimously adopted, that such a pub- 
lication should at once be assumed, with Mrs. Walworth as 
editor. For two years it was carried on under her able man- 
agement. 

The illness of the President General threw a shadow over 
the last days of 1892. Her loyalty to the society endeared 
her to all, and her death in October was a personal sorrow to 
those who had been associated with her in the work. Her 
beautiful portrait, painted by Daniel Huntington, was un- 
veiled in the Congress of 1894 upon the platform where two 
years before she welcomed the regents and delegates. This 
portrait was a gift from members of the society to the Na- 
tion, and was placed in the White House. Mrs. EUen H. 
Walworth first suggested this graceful act which was accom- 
plished largely through her untiring interest. 

Much of this early history is taken from the Smithsonian 
Report 1890-1897, which was prepared from the first minutes 
of the National Board, letters in the possession of Miss Wash- 
ington, and the attested statements of Miss Washington and 
Miss Desha. It was then sent to every member of the first 
National Board who could be reached, not only in Washing- 
ton, but through the country, for her signature. These sig- 
natures were sworn to as genuine, before a notary, and the 
manuscript was given to the chairman of the Printing Com- 
mittee of the United States Congress for publication. Its con- 
cluding paragraphs are as follows : 

"As the meeting of August 9th was one of preliminary or- 
ganization where officers were appointed and a constitution 
adopted, it is a simple matter of law that the existence of the 
society began at that time. This was recognized by the Con- 
gress of 1898, which declared Miss Eugenia Washington, Miss 
Mary Desha, and Mrs. Ellen Hardin Walworth the founders 
of the organization, awarding them medals as such." 

"Realizing the fact that before many years the first workers 
in this great society will pass away, and with them all oppor- 
tunity for securing the true history of these early years, we, the 
officers of the first National Board desire to declare the truth 

22 



of the foregoing history and herewith sign our names." 

(Signed) Eugenia Washington, 
Mary Desha 
Mary V. E. Cabell 
Mary E. McDonald 
Mary S. Lockwood 
Helen M. Boynton 
Alice M. Clark 
Mary H. L. Shields 
Frances B. Hamlin 
Lelia Dent St. Clair 
Henrietta Nesmith Greely 
Sue Virginia Field 
Sally Kennedy Alexander. 

As there is still misconception regarding the four medals 
awarded in the Congress of 1898 to Miss Washington, Miss 
Desha, Mrs. Walworth, and Mrs. Lockwood, it is proper to 
state here that when in the Congress of 1897 a resolution was 
offered that medals be awarded the three Founders, an amend- 
ment was carried that Mrs. Lockwood be considered a Founder 
on account of her letter of July 13, 1890. A committee was 
then appointed to have the four medals prepared and report 
the following year. In the meantime the question arose as 
to the propriety of giving a Founder's medal to any but the 
three women who had founded the society. The discussion 
resulted in having the fourth medal changed to commemorate 
the service for which it could properly be presented, namely: 
Mrs. Lockwood's letter of July 13th. The Congess of 1898 
approved this action, awarding her a medal for special service 
through the press, and Mrs. Lockwood endorsed the action 
of the Congress. 

The copies of attested statements given in this account are 
deemed necessary since the fragmentary nature of portions 
of the early records of the society, as preserved, render con- 
clusions doubtful in some cases. Under these circumstances, 
the officers signing the statements preferred to have them 
attested as they would thus carry an authority not attainable 
otherwise. 

As a committee we are satisfied that the above account is 

23 



not only correct, but secure from any doubtful interpre- 
tation. 

Helen M. Bqynton, Chainiian. 
(Signed) BKLL Merrii^Iv Drapkr, 
(Signed) Ei^izabeth M. Bowron. 

Signed by the two living Founders, 

Mary Desha. 

Ellen Hardin Walworth. 



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